Method of and apparatus for securing covers to containers



Dem-5, 1933. H. D. BENSON 7 1,938,244

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING COVERS T0 CONTAINERS Original FiledDec. 30, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l 6 INVENTOR.

AT7 URNEY.

5 1933. H BENSON 1,938,244

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING COVERS TO CONTAINERS Original FiledDec. 30, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3/ (9 INVENTOR.

BY I g H. D. BENSON was, 5, 1%33;

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEGURINGCOVERS TO CONTAINERS so 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Dec.

IN VEN TOR.

.ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 1933 UNITED STATES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECUR-' lNGCOVERS TO CONTAINERS Barry D. Benson, Sanger, CaliL, assignor, by mesneassignments, to Paxton Credit Corporation, Sanger, 0.111., a corporationof California Application December 30, 1980 Serial No. 505,575 RenewedMay 8, 1933 31Claims.

must be pressed down at the ends by the lid when the latter is appliedand nailed at its ends to the box ends. When thus applied, the lidbulges upwardly in the middle and it is found desirable to apply a straptransversely of the box to prevent the lid breaking.

In the method at present used of lidding and strapping these fruitshipping boxes, the boxes pass along a conveyer through two machines, inthe first of which the box is lidded and in the second of which thestrap is applied.

It is an object of my invention to provide a method of and apparatus forsecuring lids to containers which will decrease the amount of machinerywhich has to be provided and the time consumed in the lidding andstrapping of fruit shipping boxes.

In the citrus industry it is frequently desired to pack part of a day'srun in domestic shipping boxes, which have relatively thin side slats,and another part of the days run in export boxes, the sides of which areconsiderably thicker. In none of the strapping machines-in general useis it possible to accommodate both domestic and export shipping boxeswithout making a difficult adjustment in the machine.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide an apparatus forstrapping shipping boxes which will accommodate boxes of considerablevariation in width practically without any adjustment being required.

Further objects ofmy invention are: to provide a machine which willaccomplish the combined lidding and strapping of a fruit shipping box inone operation; to provide a machine for lidding and strapping a boxwhich will occupy a relatively small space; to provide a box strappingmechanism which is relatively small and of simple construction; and toprovide a machine for strapping boxes which may be embodied with aboxlidding machine and actuated by driving mechanism thereof.

In the box strapping machines now in use, the strapping mechanismextends downwardly opposite both sides of the box, and the space infront of the box is thus obstructed to prevent its full use for anyother purpose.

It is therefore another object of my invent-ion to provide a boxstrapping mechanism which is disposed substantially entirely above thebox so go as to leave the space in front of the box available for suchother uses as may be desired.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects, as well as furtherobjects and advantages, will be made manifest in the followingdescription, together with the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment. of thelidding and strapping machine of my invention, certain parts being 7broken away to illustrate its operation.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of Fig. -1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the machine at adifferent point in the strapping operation.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a strap such as is adapted to be appliedby a machine of my invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the strappingapparatus of my invention illustrating the completion of the strappingoperatic the beginning of which is shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the strapping 35 mechanism taken on theline '1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a saddle bar of my invention taken on theline 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of =a yieldable driving linkincluded in my invention.

The apparatus of my invention as illustrated in the drawings, isembodied in a combined lidding and strapping machine 10 which includes aframe 11, a boxreceiving and elevating mechanism 12, a lid positioner13, a lid nailing mechag5 nism 14 and a strapping mechanism 15.

, The frame 11 has a base 20 including feet 21 formed of heavy angleiron. These feet are connected by a heavy cross bar22 and have channelbeam standards 23 extending upwardly 1o. therefrom. At'their upper endsthe standards 23 are connected by a suitable connecting bar (not shown).

The boa: receiving and elevating mechanism 12 The box receiving andelevating mechanism 12 includes a hydraulic lift 26 which is controlledby a valve 27 having a foot lever 28. The lift 26 has a piston rod 29which is elevated when the lever 28 is depressed and lowered when thislever is released. Mounted on the piston rod 29 is a box receiving table30. Secured to the table 30 and embracing flanges 35 of the channel beamstandards 23 are guide wheels 36. Provided on the ends of the table 30for positioning a packed box of fruit .37 on this table are rollers 38.

The lid positioner 13 The lid positioner 13 is mounted upon a pair ofbrackets which extend forwardly from and are rigidly fixed upon thestandards 23. The lid positioner 13 includes a pair of stationaryrollers 46 mounted on under faces of feet 47 provided along the loweredges of the brackets 45. Also secured on these brackets are yieldablelarge arms 49 having lower cam faces 50 against which ends of a lid 51come in contact when such a lid is lifted upwardly until it is bowed, asshown in Fig. 2, so that the ends slip between surfaces 50 and aretrapped between lower edges of the arms 49.

The lid nailing mechanism 14 The lid nailing mechanism 14 includes aplurality of nail chucks mounted on the feet 47 of the brackets 45,these chucks being supplied with nails by a suitable automatic stripper(not shown) secured upon the frame 11 at a point above these chucks andin the well known manner. Slidable in each of the chucks 60 is one of aseries of hammers 61 which are mounted on a frame 62. This frame isreciprocable vertically on the frame 11 by means of cranks 65 providedon a shaft 66 and rotated through a clutch 67. The clutch 67 iscontrolled by a foot pedal 68 so that the depression of this pedalcauses the shaft 66 to make a single rotation and come to a halt in itsoriginal position, this resulting in the hammers 61 going through acomplete nailing cycle.

The strapping mechanism 15 The strapping mechanism 15 is mounted on aframe 70 including cross bars 71 and 72 which are connected centrally byangle iron beams 73.

Secured between the beams 73 is a stationary slide box 75 provided withopposite pairs of rollers 76 between which slidably extends a mountingstem 77 of the strapping mechanism 15. At 'the upper end of the stem 77is astop 78 which limits downward movement of this stem. Rigidly securedto the lower end of the stem 77 is a fabricated saddle bar 80 preferablymade up of plates 81 and a channel bar 82 disposed therebetween adjacentlower edges of these plates and permanently secured thereto.

The saddle bar 80 has a lower lid shaping edge,

86, outer ends of which extend downwardly for shaping a lid 51 duringthe strapping operation. The channel bar 82 is shorter than the plates81 and has a relatively deep channel-88 formed upwardly thereinthroughout its length.

Between opposite ends of the plates 81 are free spaces 89. Secured inplace in these spaces by bolts 90 are spacers 91, these bolts extendingthrough the plates 81 and the spacers. The spacers 91 are cylindricaland provide pivotal supports for strapper jaws 92 which extend into thespaces 89 as shown in Fig. 6. Each strapper jaw 92 includes a pair ofplates 95 shaped as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and held in spacedrelation at their lower ends as by a spacer 96 and a bolt 97. Lowerextremities of. the plates 95 are flared outwardly to provide guides 98for apurpose which will be made evident hereinafter.

Upper ends of the plates 95 of each jaw 92 are pivotally connected by abolt 100 to an eye on the lower end of a rod 101 which has a collar 102and extends upwardly through a slide box 103 rotatably fixed on one ofthe angle beams 73 and is provided with nuts 104 on its upper end foradjusting its downwardmost position. Disposed between the collar 102 andthe slide box 103 is a spring 106 for maintaining the rod 101 in itslowermost position.

Inner faces of the plates 95 are machined off to provide a driverway 110in a lower portion of which is fixed a driver stop 111. Disposed in eachdriveway 110 and pivotally mounted on the spacer 90 is a driver 112having a lower driving head 114 and a laterally extending arm 115.

The frame 62 has front and rear bars 117 and 116 each of which ispivotally connected 'to one of thedriver arms 115 by one of a pair ofyieldably extensible links 118. Each link 118 includes a cylinder 119,the lower end of which is pivoted to one of the arms 115, this cylinderhaving a piston 125, which is connected to a piston rod 126 extendingupwardly through a head 100 127 of the cylinder and pivotally connectedto one of the bars 116' or 117 of the frame 62. The piston 125 isprovided with a packer 130, which faces downwardly, and a passageway 131is formed through the lower end of the piston rod 126 so as tocommunicate between the upper and lower chambers 132 and 133 into whichthe piston 125 divides the interior of the cylinder 119. Disposedbetween the piston 125 and the cylinder head 127 is a compression spring135 which continually urges the cylinder 19 upwardly so as to lift thedriver arm and bring the head 114 against the driver 111.

Operation The operation of the combined lidding and strapping machine 10in carrying out the method of my invention is as follows:

A box of fruit 37, with fruit 150 extending above the top of the box, ispositioned on the table 30 between the rollers 38 as clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 2. At this time the jaws 92 are in outward position, asshown in Fig. 3, owing to the stem 77 hanging downward with the pin 78resting on the slide box 75. v

A strap 160 having its opposite ends 161 bent and pointed as shown inFig. 5, is now lifted upwardly into the strapping mechanism 15 so thatthe opposite ends of the strap are guided into place by the guides 98and snap into position between the spacers 96 and the driver heads 114as shown in Fig. 3, the strap being under compression so as to be bowedupwardly almost into contact with the saddle 80. When the strap is thuspositioned it is of course aligned with the channel 88 and disposeddirectly therebeneath.

The lid 51 is now inserted in place with its ends in contact with thecam surfaces 50 of the lid positioner 13 and lifted until it snaps intobowed position as shown in Fig. 2.

The pedal 28 is now depressed as shown in Fig. 4, which operates thevalve 27 to admit liquid under pressure to the hydraulic elevator 26. Asthe box 37 moves upwardly the fruit engages the lid 51 and forces thislid upwardly 145 past the rollers 46, thus increasing the bulge in thelid and loosely trapping the strap in the channel 88 with the lidbearing against the shaper saddle 80 so as to lift this as shown in Fig.4. Upward movement of the saddle 80150 lifted to diiierent heights bydifferent sized boxes 57 or diflerent amounts of fruit 156 piled uptherein. 7

When the frame 62 is stationary in its upward position the springs 135of the links 118 urge the .cylinders 119 upward so as to retain theheads 114 of the drivers 112 pressed outwardly against the stops 111even though in the preliminary adjustment of the saddle and associatedparts, the drivers 112 are actually lifted relative to the reciprocatingframe .62. Operation of the springs 135 to maintain this conditionduring this preliminary adjustment is possible owing to the relativelyslow speed with which the adjustment is made so that part of fluid inthe chambers 133 of the links 118 has ample time to flow through thepassages 131 into the upper chambers 132.

As this preliminary action of the strapping mechanism 15 is completed,the ends of the lid 51 are pressed by ends of the box 37 against thelower faces of the nailing chucks 60, this pressure resisting furtherupward movement of the carriage 30 so as to cause the lift to merelyhold the box in this position as long as the pedal 28 is held down.

with the box thus positioned, the pedal 68 is depressed, whereupon theclutch 6'7 rotates the shaft 66 a single revolution which moves theframe 62 down and up for a single reciprocation. This causes the hammers61 to drive nails from each of the chucks 60 through ends of the lid '51into ends of the box 37 and simultaneously to push downward on thepiston rods 126 of the extensible links 118; The suddenness of thismotion does not give time for the escape of liquid from-the chambers 133through the passages 131 into the chambers 132 of the extensible links118 so that the drivers -112 are swung downwardly, driving the pointedends 161 of the strap 160 into the middle partition 165 of the box 37,while the upper portion of the strap is still loosely positioned in thechannel 88. During the first part of the rapid upward return of thereciprocating frame 62 the driver heads 114 are returned into contactwith the stops 111 which halts upward movement of the cylinders 119 ofthe extensible links 118. During the remainder of the upward travel ofthe frame 62 the packers 130 collapse sufliciently to permit oil in theupper chambers 132 to pass downwardly around the packers 130 into thelower chambers 133 of the cylinders 119.

As soon as the lid has been thus nailed and strapped the pedal 28 isreleased and'the table 30 moves rapidly down to its lower position inwhich it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the lidded and strapped box 37is removed from the table.

A complete cycle of operation of the machine 10, illustrative of themethod of my invention, has now been accomplished.

It is thus seen that I have produced a method of securing lids tocontainers by which the time of lidding and strapping covers on fruitshipping boxes may be practically cut in half. It is also seen that Ihave produced an apparatus for carrying out this method which willelimi- .nate one half of the machinery formerly required for lidding andstrapping covers on fruit shipping boxes.

It is also desired to call attention to the fact that the yieldablemanner in which the jaws 92 are mounted to swing about the spacers 91permits the machine 10 to handle boxes which vary considerably in widthwithout any adjustment of the machine being necessary. The manner inwhich this may be accomplished may beseen by an inspection of Figs. 4and 6, where the jaws 92 are inclined inwardly against the sides of thebox 3'1. In case a wider box than the box 3'7 were to be placed on theplatform .30 and lifted against the saddle bar 80, as shown in Fig. 4,the springs 106 would merely be compressed slightly more than shown inthis figure, so that the jaws 192 would accommodate the wider box. Atthe same time further expansion of the springs 135 in the yieldablelinks 118 would be permitted so that the drive heads 114 would beretained in contact with the stops 111. Thus, no matter what width ofbox might be placed in the machine, (within the range of widths whichthe machine is capable of handling) the yieldably extensible links 118main'- tain the drivers 112 in such position that reciprocation of theframe 62 will just actuate the drivers 112 sufficiently to drive thestrap ends into the box as shown in Fig. 6.

Another advantage of the invention is seen in the provision of thestrapping mechanism above the box so that the space in front of the boxis free to be used in any way which may be desired. In the presentembodiment this arrangement of the strapper mechanism gives the operatorcomplete freedom for inserting a strap in the strapper, placing the lidin the lid positioner, and for moving a box from one conveyer onto theplatform30 and, after this is lidded and strapped, removing this boxfrom the platform onto the second conveyer.

These two conveyers, which in practically all strapper installations aredisposed on opposite sides of the platform 30, are not shown in thedrawings, as the manner in which these are provided and used inconnection with a box strapping machine is well known in the art. Thecustomary manner of using these conveyors is to feed the boxes in apractically continuous stream to the strapping machine so that a packedbox ready to be lidded and strapped is always available for insertion inthe machine as soon as the previous box has been discharged therefrom.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment of theapparatus of my invention, it is to be understood that manymodifications and changes might be made in this without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.--

I claim as new and ask for Letters Patent:

1. A method of securing lids to containers which consists in feedingsaid' containers consecutively along'a given path, halting eachcontainer in a givenposition in said path, position- 1' ing a lid abovesaid container, positioning a strap transversely across a centralportion of said lid, bringing said lid and said container together andsimultaneously nailing said lid to said container and securing oppositeends of said strap 1'.

consecutively along a given path, halting each container in a givenposition in said path, positioning a lid above said container,positioning a strap transversely across a central portion of said lid,bringing said lid and said container together so as to depress endportions of said surplus into said container and bring the ends of saidlid in contact with ends of said container and simultaneously nailingends of said lid to said container and securing opposite ends of saidstrap to said container.

3. A method of securing lids to containers filled with a substantialsurplus of the contents extending above the top of the container, whichmethod consists in feeding said filled containers consecutively along agiven path, halting each container in a given position in said path,positioning a lid above said container, positioning a strap transverselyacross a central portion of said lid, shaping said lid transverselybeneath said strap, bringing said lid and said container together so asto depress end portions of said surplus into said container and bringthe ends of said lid in contact with ends of said container andsimultaneously nailing ends of said lid to said container and securingopposite ends of said strap to sides of said container.

4. A method of securing lids to containers which consists in feedingsaid containers consecutively along a given path, halting each containerin a given position in said path, positioning a lid above saidcontainer, positioning transversely across said lid a strap havingpointed ends, bringing said lid and said container together, shapingsaid strap so that end portions thereof are disposed opposite the sidesof said container and substantially simultaneously nailing said lid tosaid container and driving opposite ends of said strap into saidcontainer.

5. A method of securing lids to containers filled with a substantialsurplus of the contents extending above the top of the container, whichmethod consists in feeding said filled containers consecutively along agiven path, halting each container in a given position in said path,positioning a lid above said container, positioning a strap transverselyacross said lid, elevating said container to bring said surpluspressurably against said lid so as to bow said lid and bring its endsinto contact with the ends of said container and depress end portions ofsaid surplus into said container, and nailing ends 'of said lid to saidcontainer and securing opposite ends of said strap to sides of saidcontainer.

6. A method of securing lids to containers filled with a substantialsurplus of the contents extending above the top of the container, whichmethod consists in feeding said filled containers consecutively along agiven path, halting each container in a given position in said path,positioning a lid above said container, positioning a strap transverselyacross said lid, bringing said lid and said container together so as tosimultaneously bow said lid with its ends against the ends of saidcontainer and shape said lid beneath said strap, nailing said lid tosaid container, and securing opposite ends of said strap to saidcontainer.

7. A method of securing lids to containers filled with a substantialsurplus of the contents extending above the top of the container, whichmethod consists in feeding saidfilled containers consecutively along agiven path, halting each container in a given position in said path,positioning a lid above said container, positioning a strap transverselyacross said lid, bringing said lid and said container together so as tosimultaneously bow said lid with its ends against the ends of saidcontainer and shape said lid beneath said strap, forming said strap tothe same shape as given said lid, nailing said lid to said container,and securing opposite ends of said strap to said container.

8. A method of securing lids to containers filled with a substantialsurplus of the contents extending above the top of the container, whichmethods consists in feeding said filled containers consecutively along agiven path, halting each container in a given position in said path,positioning a lid above said container, positioning a strap transverselyacross said lid, bringing said lid and said container together so as -tosimultaneously bow said lid with its ends against the ends of saidcontainer and shape said lid beneath said strap, forming said strap tothe same shape as given said lid, and simultaneously nailing said lid tosaid container and securing opposite ends of said strap to saidcontainer. a

9. In a machine for lidding and strapping boxes, the combination of:means for positioning a box in said machine; means for nailing the endsof a lid on said box while so positioned; and means for applying a strapacross said lid between its ends and securing it to sides of said boxwhile the latter is so positioned.

10. In a machine for lidding and strapping boxes, the combination of:means for positioning a box in said machine; and means forsimultaneously lidding said box with a middle portion of the lid thereofarched above end portions thereof, and strapping said middle portion ofthe lid to said box while the box is so positioned.

11. In a machine for lidding and strapping boxes, the combination of:means for positioning a box in said machine; means for positioning a lidabove said box while in said position; means for shaping said lid andpositioning a strap transversely of said lid while said box is sopositioned; and means for securing both said lid and said strap to saidbox while the latter is so positioned. I

12. In a machine for lidding and strapping boxes, the combination of:means for positioning a box in said machine; means for positioning a lidabove said box while in said position; means for shaping said lid andpositioning a strap transversely of said lid while said box is sopositioned; and means for simultaneously securing both said lid and saidstrap to said box while the latter is so positioned.

13. In a lidding and strapping machine, the combination of means forreceiving a box; means for positioning a lid thereon; means at oppositeends of said box for nailing ends of said lid to said box; means locatedbetween said lid nailing means for shaping said lid transversely; andmeans for securing opposite ends of a strap to opposite sides of saidbox with the strap disposed transversely of said lid to retain said lidin shaped conformation.

14. In a lidding and strapping machine, the combination of: means forreceiving a box; means for positioning a lid thereon; means at oppositeends of said box for nailing ends of said lid to said box; means locatedbetween said lid nailing means for shaping said lid transversely; meansfor securing opposite ends of a strap to opposite sides of said box withthe strap disposed transversely of said lid to retain said regardless ofsubstantial variations in box width; and means, actuated after saidposition ing in readiness, for said box.

16. In a machine for applyin a strap across a given face of an objectand securing it to'two other adjacent faces, the combination of: a tablefor supporting said object; jaws adapted to receive and confine endportions of a strap within a given plane; a member having its oppositeends pivotally connected to said jaws to form a strap confining unit;means to bring said unit and said object together to cause said memberto engage said given face and to swing said jaws inwardly close to saidadjacent faces, said strap ends being swung in with said jaws so as tolie in said plane and close to said adjacent faces; and means on saidunit for securing said strap ends to said adjacent faces of said object.

17. In a machine for applyin a strap across a given face of an objectand securing it to two other adjacent faces, the combination of: a tablefor supporting said object; jaws receiving and confining in a givenplane end portions of a driving said strap ends into strap havingintegral driving ends; a member.

pivotally connected to said jaws to form a strap confining unit; meansto bring said unit and said object together to cause said member toengage said given face and to swing said jaws inwardly close to saidadjacent faces, said end portions being thus positioned close to saidadjacent faces; and drivers on said unit for driving said strap drivingends into said adjacent faces of said object with said jaws positionedinwardly as aforesaid.

18. In a machine for applying across a given face of an object a straphaving driving ends and driving said ends into two other'adjacent faces,the combination of a pair of jaws having pockets formed therein forconfining said strap driving ends; means to support said jaws to permitthem to rotate about axes relatively close to corners ofintersectingpairs of said faces, thus bringing said jaws to rest inproximity with said adjacent faces, said strap driving ends being placedby said rotation in proper position to be driven into said adjacentfaces: means causing rotation of said jaws. to so position said strapends; and drivers forming opposed end walls of said pockets and rotatingwith said jaws when the latter position said strap ends, said driversinverted U-shaped strapper structure supportedon said frame transverselyover said table and vertically movable as a unit relative to said frame,said unit having a relatively deep mouth adapted to receive the coverand a substantial upper portion of a box resting on said table;

means for causing relative movement. between said table and said unit tobring said cover and box into said mouth, there being guideways on saidunit to confine a strap at this time in substantial conformation withsaid cover and with the ends of said strap opposite sides of said box;andmeans on said unit for securing ends of said strap to sides ofsaid'box.

- 20. In a mechanism for applying a strap to a plurality of facesof anobject, the combination of: a central member for contacting a face ofsaid object; strap supporting and shaping members connected to oppositeends of said central member; means for bringing said central member andsaid face into pressurable engagement;

means responsive to said engagement to move said strap shaping membersinwardly to shape end portions of a strap inward towards other faces ofsaid object; and means for securin ends of said strap in place to retainsaid strap on said object.

21. In a strapping device the combination of: an overhead structure; asaddle bar movably mounted thereon and yieldably urged into strapreceiving position; jaws pivotally connected to opposite ends of saidbar; links connecting said.

jaws to said overhead structure, said links causing said jaws to beextended when said bar is in strap receiving position; means forbringing said overhead structure and an. object to be strapped towardseach other so that a face of said object engages said bar and moves itinto strap applying position, this causing said jaws to rotate inwardlyon said bar and form end portions of said strap alongside other faces ofsaid object; and means actuated by movement of a portion of saidoverhead structure for securing ends of said strap in place to retainsaid strap on said object.

22. In a cover press and-strapping machine for overfilled boxes thecombination of: means for pressing ends of a cover downward against thebox ends in position for nailing thereto and permitting the middleportion of the cover to bulge upwardly; means for positioning a straptransversely .across said bulged portion of said cover and shaping saidbulged portion transversely beneath said strap; mechanism for causingrelative movement between said box andthe aforesaid means in a givenvertical path to apply said cover to said box in bulged and transverselyshaped condition and apply a strap thereover, said strap applying andtransverse cover shaping means being yieldably related vertically tosaidcover end pressing means to compensate for varying heights of bulge indifferent boxes; and means for securing the ends of said strap toopposite sides of said box.

23. In a strapping device the combination of: a frame; a central member;jaw'members pivoted on end portions of said central member; means formounting said members on said frame so that they yieldably resistmovement relative to said frame in a given direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of said central member; means on certain of saidmembers for supporting a strap having driving ends; means for bringingan object to be strapped into pressurable contact with said centralmember to cause movement of the latter in the aforesaid directionrelative to said frame thereby causing said jaw members to fold aboutsaid object and shape said strap thereabout; and means for driving theends of said strap into said object when said strap is so shaped.

24. In a machine for securing a cover on a box having a partition by astrap having integral driving ends, the combination of a table forsupporting said box; a cover shaping bar extending across said coverthereabove; strap confining extensions provided on opposite ends of saidbar and extending downwardly opposite upper portions of the sides ofsaid box, there being recesses in said extensions for confining endportions of said strap in the plane of said partition and disposedinwardly adjacent opposite sides of said box, said bar and extensionscomprising a unit; means'for causing relative vertical movement betweensaid unit and said table to shape said cover and position said strapends as aforesaid; and means pivotally mounted on said unit andoperating in said recesses for driving said strap ends into saidpartition.

.25. In a machine for strapping a cover on an overfilled packed box, thecombination of a table adapted to support a box, there being horizontalpaths of travel, for delivering a box onto or removing it from saidtable, said paths being open during intervals between strappingoperations from at least one end and one side of said machine; strappingmeans supported transversely over said table above said paths so as notto interfere with box movement along said paths; and means for causingrelative vertical movement between said table and said strapping meansto apply a strap across a middle portion.

of said box and secure ends of said strap to opposite sides of said box.

26. In a machine for securing across a cover of a box a strap havingintegral driving ends, the combination of: means for shaping said covertransversely and loosely confining a middle portion of said strapadjacent and transversely of said cover and substantially conforming tothe shape of said cover; means provided on the aforesaid means tosupport said driving ends of said strap and to push said strap upwardlyrelative to the aforesaid means and centralize said strap on itslongitudinal axis relative to said box: and means for driving said strapends into said box when the strap is so centralized.

27. In a machine for binding a cover onto an overfilled packed box by astrap applied across a middle portion of said cover in a transverseplane, the combination of: a table for supporting said packed box inupright position with a cover positioned thereover; means to confineopposite end portions of a strap in said plane, to drive the strap endsinto opposite sides of said box in said plane, and to guide the strapends in said plane while being so driven; and cover shaping meansextending across said cover and connecting said aforementioned means toform a strapper unithaving movement as a unit relative to said boxsupporting table to apply a strap across the cover of said box, shapesaid cover, and drive the strap ends into opposite sides of said box.

28, In a machine for binding a cover onto an overfilled packed box by astrap applied across a middle portion of said cover in a transverseplane, the combination of a table for supporting said packed box inupright position with a cover positioned thereover; means to confineopposite end portions of a strap in said plane. to drive the strap endsinto opposite sides of said box in said plane, and to guide the strapends in said plane while being so driven; and a member extending acrosssaid cover and connecting said aforementioned means to form a strapperunit having movement as a unit relative to said box supporting table toapply a strap across the cover of said box and drive the strap ends intoopposite sides of said box.

29. In a machine for strapping a cover on an overfilled packed boxhaving a partition the combination of: a table for supporting saidpacked box in upright position with a cover positioned thereover; meansto confine opposite end portions of a strap in the plane of saidpartition and. to then secure the strap ends to said box; and covershaping means extending across said cover and connecting saidaforementioned means to form a strapper unit having movement as a unitrelative to said box supporting table to apply a strap across the coverof said box, shape said cover, and secure the strap ends to oppositesides of said box.

30. In a machine for strapping a cover on an overfilled packed boxhaving a partition the combination of: a table for supporting saidpacked box in upright position with a cover positioned thereover; meansto confine opposite end portions of a strap in a plane of said partitionand to then secure the strap ends to said box; and a member extendingacross said cover and connecting said aforementioned means to form astrapper unit having movement as a unit relative to said box supportingtable to apply a strap across the cover of said box and secure the strapends to opposite sides of said box.

31. In a combined cover press and strapping machine for overfilledboxes, the combination of; means for pressing ends of a cover, disposedover a box, against the ends of said box in position for nailing theretoand permitting the middle portion of the cover to bulge upwardly; meansfor positioning a strap transversely across said bulged portion of saidcover; mechanism for causing relative up and down movement between saidbox and the aforesaid pressing means to apply said cover to said box andapply a strap thereover, there being an open horizontal space in theaforesaid pressing means before the starting of said pressing and strapapplying operation to permit said cover to be inserted broadside intoposition over said box; and means for securing opposite ends of saidstrap to sides of said box.

HARRY D. BENSON.

